Where's The Physicality?

Coming into the season, the Bulldogs' running ability figured to be an almost certain strongpoint.

And after an impressive season-opening win (albeit over a lesser-opponent) there was no reason to forecast shoddy tackling going into the Bulldogs first SEC game.

In the aftermath of the uninspiring performance in Columbia, the criticism and comments from fans basically boil down to an affront on the Bulldogs' physicality and tenacity.

"You know, I think it was a combination of a couple of things," said Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. "You know, I wouldn't say I was taken back by it. I think you're always going to have situations that come up, and you've got to respond. You've got to fight, and you've got to answer the bell."

Sticking with the boxing theme Grantham introduced, Gamecocks' true freshman running back Marcus Lattimore consistently jabbed the Georgia defense Saturday. He never landed a haymaker—there were no 30-plus yard runs—but he methodically beat down the Bulldogs.

Senior linebacker Darryl Gamble, either in jest or serious estimation, claimed the bruising back gained 140 yards on the ground after initial contact.

"I mean guys were in the right spots," Gamble said. "Guys were there, we just weren't finishing plays."

There is something to the fundamentals versus schematic argument. Adding in a third element—effort—and the answer to each football-related problem is usually the result of a deficiency in one of those three areas. But the answer as to which was the main culprit almost always brings forth the same answer: A little bit of all three.

On the schematic side of the argument, yes, coach Mark Richt and Grantham both say, changes need to be made along the defensive line.

Junior DeAngelo Tyson played every single defensive down against South Carolina. He sprained his MCL in the process. Reserves, and supposed game-ready, Justin Anderson and Kwame Geathers did not play a single down. South Carolina devised a cunning, yet simple, game plan to foil the Bulldogs' scheme. The Gamecocks ran mostly three receiver sets to keep the Bulldogs in their nickel package.

Either way, schematically, something was amiss on defense.
But also, there were several occasions the scheme placed players in the right position at the right time to make a tackle.

Yet Lattimore kept landing those jabs. He kept gaining eight yards when he should have only picked up three. He kept gaining first downs when, instead, the punt team should have been replacing him.

"That's basic fundamental football," said secondary coach Scott Lakatos. "No matter what you're doing and what you're trying to do, if you don't execute it doesn't matter. That's the thing, coming out of that game, we said we didn't tackle and execute the way we needed to, the way we should be doing. That's priority No. 1 this week to get that fixed."

"To be a very good defensive player, you have to be able to keep your feet on contact," said linebackers coach Warren Belin. "So we're going to work on all those contact drills."

Perhaps the middle ground in the scheme versus execution is found in the Georgia secondary. Numerous times, the Gamecocks threw quick, short passes that gained more yards than should have. Also, when Lattimore got past the defensive line, corners and safeties lacked the ability to provide sufficient run support.

"As a defensive back, a lot of times we cut players because we're not the biggest people," said junior cornerback Brandon Boykin. "But with Lattimore, he's a really good back. It was tough to cut him because he ran with his legs so high and just kept his feet moving. It's just something that varies with different running backs. I mean, it works on some, but on him it didn't. We really have to adjust the game plan. I think we did later on in the game, but at that time the clock was running down."

And Gamble pointed to a lack of effort put forth by some defensive players. Bacarri Rambo also apologized to his teammates and fans for loafing on a few plays.

"I think they don't know what to say," Richt said of his players. "They have to think of something. I don't know if they really know what to say. They just know we didn't do a very good job and that we have to get better. They are frustrated. When they get these things thrown at them, what is the right thing to say? We calculate loafs in a game, and there was not a game where we said we loafed. We did not see that on film. I don't think there was a lack of effort."

In any event, at least the scheme and fundamentals were somewhat troublesome, and some questioned the effort.
It could be troubling to note so many aspects of a defense out of sorts. In turn, it could be encouraging to also point out South Carolina only scored 17 points despite such deficiencies on Georgia's part.

That's all in the perspective of the beholder.

"Hey, we didn't win the game," Grantham said directly following the game. "And the bottom line is, we didn't win the game. You know, we got to find more ways to create more turnovers. We got to find ways to get off the field on third down, and that's the way I look at it. You either win the game or lose the game. I thought the players continued to play hard. I was proud of their effort. I think they bowed up. I think they did a nice job of adjusting on the sideline because as the game went along some things were corrected. I think it's just one of those things we move forward and learn from it as we get on in the season."

While Lattimore was ripping off his best Herschel Walker impression, the Georgia rushing game never could get going Saturday. Add in the season-opening, mildly disappointing effort, and the position has quickly transformed from a foregone strength into a head scratching question mark.

"They beat us physically on defense and on offense," senior lineman Clint Boling said. "I don't know what we rushed for, but we didn't run the ball successful at all. And, I thought we did a decent job pass protecting, but you can't do that. You've got to be able to run the ball in this league. We just didn't do a good enough job of it."

A few obvious terms as to what could be holding the rushing attack down: Continuity and consistency.

The offensive line has been touted as one of the most experienced groups in all of college football. This is the truth and fair enough.

But a tumultuous fall camp hurt the unit's continuity. Ben Jones missed time after his knee was scoped. Cordy Glenn went down with mono. Josh Davis was sidelined with a sprained ankle. Trinton Sturdivant's knee is approaching 100 percent. Chris Burnette missed weeks with a concussion. The list goes on-and-on.

The tailbacks have also contributed a fair share of breaking up the ebb and flow.

Washaun Ealey was suspended the first game of the season. Caleb King missed last week with an ankle sprain.
While the pass-protection has been strong, all the attrition appears to have taken a toll on the ground game.

So what exactly is the problem? How can a line with so much experience and past success be struggling?

"It could be from the way (opponents are) lined up," said senior Josh Davis. "You're not sure, or it may be fatigue. I doubt it was fatigue. We're in great shape. It was probably just being unsure and getting away from technique."

OK, so once again we see fundamentals cited. Here is another potential culprit to blame.

"Talent-wise, I think we have the guys upfront to do it," Boling said. "Whether we're doing it or not, we just have to have that mindset that we want to just dominate our guy every play, and I don't know if we have that right now."

So, Boling enters mindset into the equation. Once again, the answer usually is both are combining to hold the effort down.

Richt isn't placing the blame squarely on the line. In shared blame fashion, he cites multiple factors for causing the low numbers. He says the line must perform better, but also adds the running backs need to hit the holes correctly when they appear.

"I just think it's a few minor things that happened and a few things that happened at the wrong time," senior fullback Fred Munzenmaier said. "I think there was that one play at the goal line where we're trying to go in and it went the other way. That's tough to overcome. Take that away and I think there wasn't a whole lot holding us back."

So, all this week players have been parading in front of a media contingent set on asking questions about physicality and tenacity and toughness and aggression and heart and intensity.
The response has been firm.

"We're going to run the ball," Davis said. "We're going to do it very well. We do have an experienced offensive line. We should be able to run the ball. I think that was a learning experience. It won't happen again."

"I don't think that will be an issue," Gamble said. "We know what we're doing wrong. This week, it's time to improve it and I don't think that guys want to hear that lecture again. I think you'll see a big change."

"I hope we use this as a learning experience because as competitive as this league is, we can't afford to have that happen again," said Munzenmaier. "We certainly can't lose because a lack of intensity. But, I think that we have a very mature team and a group of hardworking guys and I feel that we wouldn't let the lack of emotion that we had last week carry over."

"It's something we can correct," Boykin said. "I mean nobody is really pouting on it. You can't sit there and let South Carolina beat us twice."

\r\nComing into the season, the Bulldogs' running ability figured to be an almost certain strongpoint. \r\n

\r\nAnd after an impressive season-opening win (albeit over a lesser-opponent) there was no reason to forecast shoddy tackling going into the Bulldogs first SEC game.\r\n

\r\nIn the aftermath of the uninspiring performance in Columbia, the criticism and comments from fans basically boil down to an affront on the Bulldogs' physicality and tenacity. \r\n

\r\n\"You know, I think it was a combination of a couple of things,\" said Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. \"You know, I wouldn't say I was taken back by it. I think you're always going to have situations that come up, and you've got to respond. You've got to fight, and you've got to answer the bell.\"\r\n

\r\nSticking with the boxing theme Grantham introduced, Gamecocks' true freshman running back Marcus Lattimore consistently jabbed the Georgia defense Saturday. He never landed a haymaker—there were no 30-plus yard runs—but he methodically beat down the Bulldogs. \r\n

\r\nSenior linebacker Darryl Gamble, either in jest or serious estimation, claimed the bruising back gained 140 yards on the ground after initial contact. \r\n

\r\n\"I mean guys were in the right spots,\" Gamble said. \"Guys were there, we just weren't finishing plays.\"\r\n

\r\nThere is something to the fundamentals versus schematic argument. Adding in a third element—effort—and the answer to each football-related problem is usually the result of a deficiency in one of those three areas. But the answer as to which was the main culprit almost always brings forth the same answer: A little bit of all three. \r\n

\r\nOn the schematic side of the argument, yes, coach Mark Richt and Grantham both say, changes need to be made along the defensive line. \r\n

\r\nJunior DeAngelo Tyson played every single defensive down against South Carolina. He sprained his MCL in the process. Reserves, and supposed game-ready, Justin Anderson and Kwame Geathers did not play a single down. South Carolina devised a cunning, yet simple, game plan to foil the Bulldogs' scheme. The Gamecocks ran mostly three receiver sets to keep the Bulldogs in their nickel package. \r\n

\r\nEither way, schematically, something was amiss on defense.\r\nBut also, there were several occasions the scheme placed players in the right position at the right time to make a tackle. \r\n

\r\nYet Lattimore kept landing those jabs. He kept gaining eight yards when he should have only picked up three. He kept gaining first downs when, instead, the punt team should have been replacing him. \r\n

\r\n\"That's basic fundamental football,\" said secondary coach Scott Lakatos. \"No matter what you're doing and what you're trying to do, if you don't execute it doesn't matter. That's the thing, coming out of that game, we said we didn't tackle and execute the way we needed to, the way we should be doing. That's priority No. 1 this week to get that fixed.\"\r\n

\r\n\"To be a very good defensive player, you have to be able to keep your feet on contact,\" said linebackers coach Warren Belin. \"So we're going to work on all those contact drills.\"\r\n

\r\nPerhaps the middle ground in the scheme versus execution is found in the Georgia secondary. Numerous times, the Gamecocks threw quick, short passes that gained more yards than should have. Also, when Lattimore got past the defensive line, corners and safeties lacked the ability to provide sufficient run support. \r\n

\r\n\"As a defensive back, a lot of times we cut players because we're not the biggest people,\" said junior cornerback Brandon Boykin. \"But with Lattimore, he's a really good back. It was tough to cut him because he ran with his legs so high and just kept his feet moving. It's just something that varies with different running backs. I mean, it works on some, but on him it didn't. We really have to adjust the game plan. I think we did later on in the game, but at that time the clock was running down.\"\r\n

\r\nAnd Gamble pointed to a lack of effort put forth by some defensive players. Bacarri Rambo also apologized to his teammates and fans for loafing on a few plays. \r\n

\r\n\"I think they don't know what to say,\" Richt said of his players. \"They have to think of something. I don't know if they really know what to say. They just know we didn't do a very good job and that we have to get better. They are frustrated. When they get these things thrown at them, what is the right thing to say? We calculate loafs in a game, and there was not a game where we said we loafed. We did not see that on film. I don't think there was a lack of effort.\"\r\n

\r\nIn any event, at least the scheme and fundamentals were somewhat troublesome, and some questioned the effort. \r\nIt could be troubling to note so many aspects of a defense out of sorts. In turn, it could be encouraging to also point out South Carolina only scored 17 points despite such deficiencies on Georgia's part. \r\n

\r\nThat's all in the perspective of the beholder.\r\n

\r\n\"Hey, we didn't win the game,\" Grantham said directly following the game. \"And the bottom line is, we didn't win the game. You know, we got to find more ways to create more turnovers. We got to find ways to get off the field on third down, and that's the way I look at it. You either win the game or lose the game. I thought the players continued to play hard. I was proud of their effort. I think they bowed up. I think they did a nice job of adjusting on the sideline because as the game went along some things were corrected. I think it's just one of those things we move forward and learn from it as we get on in the season.\" \r\n

\r\nWhile Lattimore was ripping off his best Herschel Walker impression, the Georgia rushing game never could get going Saturday. Add in the season-opening, mildly disappointing effort, and the position has quickly transformed from a foregone strength into a head scratching question mark. \r\n

\r\n\"They beat us physically on defense and on offense,\" senior lineman Clint Boling said. \"I don't know what we rushed for, but we didn't run the ball successful at all. And, I thought we did a decent job pass protecting, but you can't do that. You've got to be able to run the ball in this league. We just didn't do a good enough job of it.\"\r\n

\r\nA few obvious terms as to what could be holding the rushing attack down: Continuity and consistency.\r\n

\r\nThe offensive line has been touted as one of the most experienced groups in all of college football. This is the truth and fair enough. \r\n

\r\nBut a tumultuous fall camp hurt the unit's continuity. Ben Jones missed time after his knee was scoped. Cordy Glenn went down with mono. Josh Davis was sidelined with a sprained ankle. Trinton Sturdivant's knee is approaching 100 percent. Chris Burnette missed weeks with a concussion. The list goes on-and-on. \r\n

\r\nThe tailbacks have also contributed a fair share of breaking up the ebb and flow. \r\n

\r\nWashaun Ealey was suspended the first game of the season. Caleb King missed last week with an ankle sprain. \r\nWhile the pass-protection has been strong, all the attrition appears to have taken a toll on the ground game.\r\n

\r\nSo what exactly is the problem? How can a line with so much experience and past success be struggling? \r\n

\r\n\"It could be from the way (opponents are) lined up,\" said senior Josh Davis. \"You're not sure, or it may be fatigue. I doubt it was fatigue. We're in great shape. It was probably just being unsure and getting away from technique.\"\r\n

\r\nOK, so once again we see fundamentals cited. Here is another potential culprit to blame.\r\n

\r\n\"Talent-wise, I think we have the guys upfront to do it,\" Boling said. \"Whether we're doing it or not, we just have to have that mindset that we want to just dominate our guy every play, and I don't know if we have that right now.\"\r\n

\r\nSo, Boling enters mindset into the equation. Once again, the answer usually is both are combining to hold the effort down.\r\n

\r\nRicht isn't placing the blame squarely on the line. In shared blame fashion, he cites multiple factors for causing the low numbers. He says the line must perform better, but also adds the running backs need to hit the holes correctly when they appear. \r\n

\r\n\"I just think it's a few minor things that happened and a few things that happened at the wrong time,\" senior fullback Fred Munzenmaier said. \"I think there was that one play at the goal line where we're trying to go in and it went the other way. That's tough to overcome. Take that away and I think there wasn't a whole lot holding us back.\"\r\n

\r\nSo, all this week players have been parading in front of a media contingent set on asking questions about physicality and tenacity and toughness and aggression and heart and intensity. \r\nThe response has been firm.\r\n

\r\n\"We're going to run the ball,\" Davis said. \"We're going to do it very well. We do have an experienced offensive line. We should be able to run the ball. I think that was a learning experience. It won't happen again.\"\r\n

\r\n\"I don't think that will be an issue,\" Gamble said. \"We know what we're doing wrong. This week, it's time to improve it and I don't think that guys want to hear that lecture again. I think you'll see a big change.\" \r\n

\r\n\"I hope we use this as a learning experience because as competitive as this league is, we can't afford to have that happen again,\" said Munzenmaier. \"We certainly can't lose because a lack of intensity. But, I think that we have a very mature team and a group of hardworking guys and I feel that we wouldn't let the lack of emotion that we had last week carry over.\"\r\n

\r\n\"It's something we can correct,\" Boykin said. \"I mean nobody is really pouting on it. You can't sit there and let South Carolina beat us twice.\"\r\n","mobileBody":"Share

Coming into the season, the Bulldogs' running ability figured to be an almost certain strongpoint.

And after an impressive season-opening win (albeit over a lesser-opponent) there was no reason to forecast shoddy tackling going into the Bulldogs first SEC game.

In the aftermath of the uninspiring performance in Columbia, the criticism and comments from fans basically boil down to an affront on the Bulldogs' physicality and tenacity.

\"You know, I think it was a combination of a couple of things,\" said Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. \"You know, I wouldn't say I was taken back by it. I think you're always going to have situations that come up, and you've got to respond. You've got to fight, and you've got to answer the bell.\"

Sticking with the boxing theme Grantham introduced, Gamecocks' true freshman running back Marcus Lattimore consistently jabbed the Georgia defense Saturday. He never landed a haymaker—there were no 30-plus yard runs—but he methodically beat down the Bulldogs.

Senior linebacker Darryl Gamble, either in jest or serious estimation, claimed the bruising back gained 140 yards on the ground after initial contact.

\"I mean guys were in the right spots,\" Gamble said. \"Guys were there, we just weren't finishing plays.\"

There is something to the fundamentals versus schematic argument. Adding in a third element—effort—and the answer to each football-related problem is usually the result of a deficiency in one of those three areas. But the answer as to which was the main culprit almost always brings forth the same answer: A little bit of all three.

On the schematic side of the argument, yes, coach Mark Richt and Grantham both say, changes need to be made along the defensive line.

Junior DeAngelo Tyson played every single defensive down against South Carolina. He sprained his MCL in the process. Reserves, and supposed game-ready, Justin Anderson and Kwame Geathers did not play a single down. South Carolina devised a cunning, yet simple, game plan to foil the Bulldogs' scheme. The Gamecocks ran mostly three receiver sets to keep the Bulldogs in their nickel package.

Either way, schematically, something was amiss on defense. But also, there were several occasions the scheme placed players in the right position at the right time to make a tackle.

Yet Lattimore kept landing those jabs. He kept gaining eight yards when he should have only picked up three. He kept gaining first downs when, instead, the punt team should have been replacing him.

\"That's basic fundamental football,\" said secondary coach Scott Lakatos. \"No matter what you're doing and what you're trying to do, if you don't execute it doesn't matter. That's the thing, coming out of that game, we said we didn't tackle and execute the way we needed to, the way we should be doing. That's priority No. 1 this week to get that fixed.\"

\"To be a very good defensive player, you have to be able to keep your feet on contact,\" said linebackers coach Warren Belin. \"So we're going to work on all those contact drills.\"

Perhaps the middle ground in the scheme versus execution is found in the Georgia secondary. Numerous times, the Gamecocks threw quick, short passes that gained more yards than should have. Also, when Lattimore got past the defensive line, corners and safeties lacked the ability to provide sufficient run support.

\"As a defensive back, a lot of times we cut players because we're not the biggest people,\" said junior cornerback Brandon Boykin. \"But with Lattimore, he's a really good back. It was tough to cut him because he ran with his legs so high and just kept his feet moving. It's just something that varies with different running backs. I mean, it works on some, but on him it didn't. We really have to adjust the game plan. I think we did later on in the game, but at that time the clock was running down.\"

And Gamble pointed to a lack of effort put forth by some defensive players. Bacarri Rambo also apologized to his teammates and fans for loafing on a few plays.

\"I think they don't know what to say,\" Richt said of his players. \"They have to think of something. I don't know if they really know what to say. They just know we didn't do a very good job and that we have to get better. They are frustrated. When they get these things thrown at them, what is the right thing to say? We calculate loafs in a game, and there was not a game where we said we loafed. We did not see that on film. I don't think there was a lack of effort.\"

In any event, at least the scheme and fundamentals were somewhat troublesome, and some questioned the effort. It could be troubling to note so many aspects of a defense out of sorts. In turn, it could be encouraging to also point out South Carolina only scored 17 points despite such deficiencies on Georgia's part.

That's all in the perspective of the beholder.

\"Hey, we didn't win the game,\" Grantham said directly following the game. \"And the bottom line is, we didn't win the game. You know, we got to find more ways to create more turnovers. We got to find ways to get off the field on third down, and that's the way I look at it. You either win the game or lose the game. I thought the players continued to play hard. I was proud of their effort. I think they bowed up. I think they did a nice job of adjusting on the sideline because as the game went along some things were corrected. I think it's just one of those things we move forward and learn from it as we get on in the season.\"

While Lattimore was ripping off his best Herschel Walker impression, the Georgia rushing game never could get going Saturday. Add in the season-opening, mildly disappointing effort, and the position has quickly transformed from a foregone strength into a head scratching question mark.

\"They beat us physically on defense and on offense,\" senior lineman Clint Boling said. \"I don't know what we rushed for, but we didn't run the ball successful at all. And, I thought we did a decent job pass protecting, but you can't do that. You've got to be able to run the ball in this league. We just didn't do a good enough job of it.\"

A few obvious terms as to what could be holding the rushing attack down: Continuity and consistency.

The offensive line has been touted as one of the most experienced groups in all of college football. This is the truth and fair enough.

But a tumultuous fall camp hurt the unit's continuity. Ben Jones missed time after his knee was scoped. Cordy Glenn went down with mono. Josh Davis was sidelined with a sprained ankle. Trinton Sturdivant's knee is approaching 100 percent. Chris Burnette missed weeks with a concussion. The list goes on-and-on.

The tailbacks have also contributed a fair share of breaking up the ebb and flow.

Washaun Ealey was suspended the first game of the season. Caleb King missed last week with an ankle sprain. While the pass-protection has been strong, all the attrition appears to have taken a toll on the ground game.

So what exactly is the problem? How can a line with so much experience and past success be struggling?

\"It could be from the way (opponents are) lined up,\" said senior Josh Davis. \"You're not sure, or it may be fatigue. I doubt it was fatigue. We're in great shape. It was probably just being unsure and getting away from technique.\"

OK, so once again we see fundamentals cited. Here is another potential culprit to blame.

\"Talent-wise, I think we have the guys upfront to do it,\" Boling said. \"Whether we're doing it or not, we just have to have that mindset that we want to just dominate our guy every play, and I don't know if we have that right now.\"

So, Boling enters mindset into the equation. Once again, the answer usually is both are combining to hold the effort down.

Richt isn't placing the blame squarely on the line. In shared blame fashion, he cites multiple factors for causing the low numbers. He says the line must perform better, but also adds the running backs need to hit the holes correctly when they appear.

\"I just think it's a few minor things that happened and a few things that happened at the wrong time,\" senior fullback Fred Munzenmaier said. \"I think there was that one play at the goal line where we're trying to go in and it went the other way. That's tough to overcome. Take that away and I think there wasn't a whole lot holding us back.\"

So, all this week players have been parading in front of a media contingent set on asking questions about physicality and tenacity and toughness and aggression and heart and intensity. The response has been firm.

\"We're going to run the ball,\" Davis said. \"We're going to do it very well. We do have an experienced offensive line. We should be able to run the ball. I think that was a learning experience. It won't happen again.\"

\"I don't think that will be an issue,\" Gamble said. \"We know what we're doing wrong. This week, it's time to improve it and I don't think that guys want to hear that lecture again. I think you'll see a big change.\"

\"I hope we use this as a learning experience because as competitive as this league is, we can't afford to have that happen again,\" said Munzenmaier. \"We certainly can't lose because a lack of intensity. But, I think that we have a very mature team and a group of hardworking guys and I feel that we wouldn't let the lack of emotion that we had last week carry over.\"